This one is from back in 2011...but gives numbers on why it's so crtical to Putin. There is a flash point I think we could actually see fighting
over.

Russia will never give up its naval base in Ukraine's port of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, ex-commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet
Adm. Igor Kasatonov said.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet is stationed in Crimea under a lease agreement with Ukraine. On April 21, 2010, Moscow and Kiev signed a deal extending the
lease on the fleet's base in Sevastopol for 25 years after the current lease expires in 2017.

Many may not realize that when the USSR broke up, the Black Sea Fleet was subject to negotiation between Ukraine and Russia - it was originally split,
then operated as a single entity, and then split again in the late 1990's - Ukraine originally leased Sevastopol to Russia as a base of operations for
the Russian Black Sea Fleet until 2017.

Given that an upgrading of security at the base in the light of recent political developments in Ukraine should not be any great surprise - these
vehicles are those already stationed there.

In 2010 Yanukovych agreed a 25 year extension to 2042 - but with his downfall that will be problematic as overt Russian "neocolonialism" is not
popular in much of Ukraine but the Crimea is one of the areas that is largely populated with Russian speaking people & the fleet is understandably
popular therefor employment and prosperity reasons.

That is what I call serious and no-kidding troop movement, under the circumstances and given what is happening. It's stretching belief beyond
breaking to say it's anything else like an exercise. lol...

Putin is moving his side of the chess pieces and I think the real conflict may start soon....

Nothing I'm looking forward to seeing happen here and what may be about to come will likely shock a world that has seen nothing like it since a
Square in China had themselves a freedom protest.

In the recent reports tell of movement of Russian troops at the border with Ukraine; Rumor high alert in the Russian army for the invasion is
limited to the Ukraine to help the Ukrainian law enforcement forces against demonstrators.

Russia has 1 million or more troops - when 1500 move around in trucks it is nothing - every military every day moves troops - the US army is probably
moving 1`500 troops in trucks right now to somewhere in the USA - dose that mean they're doing something nefarious, or perhaps they're just moving
troops as happens every day??

Yep my furry friend it won't be long now. We will see if he even let's all the Olympic teams leave before he pushes in with tanks. We have had
real good relationship with Ukrainian military, sure hope they step up quickly. They are no match for Russia but we have been helping them for
years now.

They have a real problem though and I only see this ending with a split Ukraine. Either way putin wants it all. He wants and needs his jewel back.
He is one crazy brutal smart guy. He will take the ports and almost half the country in the next few days. Wait for the closing ceremonies to
end. It won't be long after that.

Ukraine has some generals and part of the military who are still loyal to Russia. That is going to be a big key how bloody it gets. I don't
think he will see any resistance at all in the largely Russian border area.

Not good for the world..... Cold war all over again.... Only now with crazy people in charge lol.

The White House warned Russia to keep its troops out of Ukraine on
Sunday night, amid fears that Moscow may step in with military force following the overthrow of the president, its ally.

Moscow accused the Ukrainian opposition of breaking a peace deal to seize power as Russia recalled its ambassador from Kiev, blaming the
“deteriorating situation” in its neighbour.

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said opposition leaders had broken the agreement mediated by European foreign ministers on Friday,
“having in effect seized power in Kiev, refused to disarm and continued to place its bets on violence.”

Barack Obama’s national security adviser said it would be a “grave mistake” for Vladimir Putin to send soldiers into Ukraine to restore a
friendly government after the upheaval.

That is interesting to read..but somehow, knowing the history of Russia and how it responds to what it sees as threats, it doesn't make me feel any
better. A week with nothing happening is all that will do that, I think. I also doubt we're going to see that here.

The support and assistance to this 'rebel element' was so transparently European and American, it's almost making Putin look like an ass in his own
backyard. Imagine if Russia fomented revolution in Iceland oe Quebec to be even closer to us...to be pro Russian and anti-West? Sure....... We'd
believe it had been a local uprising... Yup.. No doubt.. We'd just leeeeet it happen. Errrr...

I have this bad feeling of the quiet before the Putin fueled raging storm.

Hopefully..he's mellowed in his later years, and isn't the man he once was for this case. Otherwise..Well.... Uh oh...

* You'll have to enter this link title into their search box at the news site which loads. The article IS there. There is a word formed within the URL
that the censor sees and blocks. It is actually a profanity too, if taken all by itself. I don't know why it's hitting on it.

President Vladimir Putin has agreed that the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine must be maintained, amid concerns that Russia could send in
the military to defend its interests in the east of the crisis-hit country.

Mr Putin has previously been one of the missing Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych’s staunchest allies, but he pledged in a phone call with
Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel that the country must be allowed to appoint a new, functional government.

That is part of what is said, and can also be Google searched in quote to find the source. It's a good and very recent article for making it worth the
hassle, IMO.

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